Bringing MASSAGE TO MAINSTREAM MEDICINE Nancy Ann Cotter MD Clinical Assistant Professor Dept PMR, Rutgers NJ Medical School Clinical Director, Whole Health VANJ Medical Center

Bringing Massage to Mainstream Medicine What are the needs of organizations, institutions, and individuals as pertains to massage therapists? Organization: Why, safety, economics Institution: Why, for who, how much, safety, economics, risk Individual: Who do I want to work with? How do I communicate my message? What are the logistics of getting scheduled and getting paid?

LMT Facility Organization

Massage as part of an organization Healthcare organization: Is this part of our mission? Personalized care for those who prefer holistic approach Mission to decrease opioid medication Many younger patients prefer less pharmaceutical medicine Example: VA and CIH Culturally relevant for some populations Being a leader in an area that is important to the organizations mission ie nonpharmacologic pain management; ministering to the sick Return on investment: what will the returns be? Higher satisfaction scores- patient and family Decreased medication usage Risk avoidance Risk and risk avoidance

Massage in an institution: Patient satisfaction! Attracts patients: edge over the competition Example: new parents package on Mother -Baby Unit Patient safety: addresses pain and anxiety nonpharmacologically non-pharmacologic pain management for rehab in substance use disorder; specialty massage for patients with specific diagnoses Comfort/ compassion: support for the most vulnerable Human touch in hospice, pediatrics; may be supported by donors Calming: caring for anxious family members massage for family members of ICU patients Economics: fewer medications, fewer adverse effects, leads to decreased length of stay

How does the LMT get the attention of a hospital? Individual: Who do I want to work with? Specific age group: pediatrics, elderly, new mothers, teens Specific diagnosis group: Oncology, Cardiology, HIV etc If you don’t have experience , or don’t know what your “fit” is: volunteer! How do I communicate my message? Special training and experience SOAP notes ; documenting pre – and – post Understanding the pressures of the decision makers Respecting the many vantage points of decision makers ( ie need for “evidence base” What are the logistics of getting scheduled and getting paid? 10 min

LMT Facility Organization